Dale out to narrow the gap on Robins
ROCHDALE will look to reignite their push for the National League play-offs today when they make the short trip to Altrincham.
A 3-1 defeat at Aldershot and last weekend’s 2-1 reverse against Dagenham & Redbridge on home soil has seen a sixpoint gap emerge between Dale and the play-off places.
Today’s opponents currently occupy fifth place in the National League on 49 points with a game in hand on Jim Mcnulty’s men. The Robins have invested heavily in recent times – ex-dale man Alex Newby recently signed from Colchester United – and boss Phil Parkinson has a healthy squad to select from. In stark contrast, Mcnulty has been operating with a thin squad down to its bare bones in recent weeks, though the head coach may be able to call on the services of some of his sidelined stars.
Mcnulty confirmed George Nevett, Adam Clayton and Devante Rodney were all close to returning to action. The trio have all been absent in 2024, but he hopes to have them back in contention soon.
“They’re big players and every time we see one of them return, it’s a good feeling,” he said following the Dagenham defeat.
“It means we’re not playing as many players out of position, and it means we can push towards being the best we can be.
“George we hope will training next week. Training in time for the next game though doesn’t mean he will be necessarily ready to start.
“Adam Clayton, we think will train the week after. Devante Rodney, we think will train the week after. So, they’re sort of Solihull time [Saturday 17th February].
“Cian Hayes, we hope will train with us next week. BK [Brad Kelly] is a long-term one.”
Last Saturday also saw the return of Kairo Mitchell, who had been missing since November with an ankle injury.
“I’m really happy to have
Kairo back. It was a massive loss,” said Mcnulty.
“It was an innocuous injury in training, which breaks your heart really. He had just got to ten goals so early and he’s massive for the team.
“The culture and humility that I talk about, he embodies it. His selfless work from the front was so evident in the first part of the season.
“The ten goals were amazing for him, but everything else he did for the team, I found amazing, and I know his teammates value that too.
“To see him get back out on the pitch was really good news and it can only help us moving forward.”
Meanwhile, another name in contention today will be 16-year-old Mateus Mane, who made the first team matchday squad against Dagenham & Redbridge.
The Under-16 Academy player has been a regular for the Youth Team this season, as well as impressing Mcnulty in a recent training session.
“Mane deserves a mention, a 16-year-old making the bench,” commented Dale’s head coach.
“He’s been fantastic for the Youth Team. He trained with the First Team on an occasion last week and he showed real talent, for such a young boy.
“As we’ve shown all season, we want to realign this club with what has been an amazing element of this club, the Academy. What’s at stake for that moving forward I truthfully don’t know, because we’re in different financial territory than we ever have been before. I’m the head coach, I don’t run the club operationally, so I don’t know.
“But I believe in falling in line with the brave coaches that have been here before in showcasing those players, putting them in the front line.
“It’s an amazing achievement for him, being such a young boy. I did see a potential scenario whereby we could get him on the pitch for a few minutes had the game gone our way, but it didn’t.”
Mane, born in September 2007, is the most recent Youth Team player to be part of a First Team squad.
He follows the likes of Isaac Burgess, Corey Edwards and Luke Mann, who have all made their professional bows this season.
●●THE club is currently offering an Eight-game Bundle ticket for each of the final eight home games for the price of six.
Fans can save up to £44 on match ticket prices by purchasing a bundle before midday of next Saturday’s game against Solihull Moors (Sat 17th Feb).
Dale’s end to the 2023/24 season could be a truly exciting one, as Mcnulty’s men go in search of a place in the National League play-offs.
Fans can show their support by backing the lads at all final eight matches to be played at the Crown Oil Arena. The bundles are available in both the Smith Metals Family Stand and Sandy Lane end.
The price for a Sandy Lane bundle is £120, whilst one in the Smith Metals Family Stand is
£132.
Tickets are only available to purchase in-person or over the phone.
Call the club on 01706 644648 for further details and purchases.